Holidays, 2015

A Winter Scene - red door, a dusting of snow, and a vintage bicycle

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Desserts and Celebrations

Every Friday, I bake something sweet for my youngest daughter's 'Food Friday.' I've been on a decadent, delightful discovery of new recipes.....it allows me to create things I can't eat myself....then they get lovingly packaged up and delivered to my daughter's door on Thursday evenings and she takes them into the vet hospital on Friday and they get devoured....and I get feedback....and I LOVE IT!

But, as her graduation in May draws nearer, there are 'smaller' celebrations and this past Friday, she was notified of her acceptance to UC Davis, along with an offer letter of money to help with tuition. As a veterinarian, she wants to continue her education and get her PhD. She wants to teach veterinarian students in the years ahead.....and her long range goal is finding solutions to diseases which impact animals as well as humans....

So, I invited her, her husband, my middle daughter and her boyfriend to dinner on Saturday evening to celebrate.

The table getting set last evening prior to everyone's arrival....

I made broiled salmon, an Indian dish of chicken, potatoes, cilantro and a masala sauce with onions and lots of spice....I also made a french pea dish that was awesome....I will share the recipe for it at the end. I recently took a french cooking class and it was taught there.....I made several desserts as well.

The 3 berry tart with apricot glaze and an almond flour crust

The raspberry charlotte.....

the banana on the table is a bit of a 'joke' as my middle daughter's boyfriend HATES bananas...

We stayed up until 2 am.....talking, laughing, eating leftovers....such fun!!! I love my family so much....I am so blessed!!

coffee, tea, and dessert after dinner....all smiles

And, I had ordered a UC Davis vet hospital t-shirt and put it on a large bear we have at the house.....after dinner, I surprised Amanda with it....I think she loved it!!!

and the surprise BEAR wearing a UC Davis Vet Hospital t-shirt

bittersweet to see her move far away........oh my.......but also so unbelievably proud! xoxo

I loved reading this happy post! So many good things to celebrate! You should be proud! You have raised such a beautiful and intelligent daughter. Congratulations to Amanda and to you, too! That French layer cake looks stunning!! I love the sprinkling of lavender sugar on it! Your Indian chicken dish sounds delicious and that berry tart looks amazing! You are so talented in the kitchen! Your family is so lucky to have you! Thank you for sharing your happiness with us! xoxo

What a lovely celebration you put together from the beautiful table setting to the delicious sounding menu. Desserts are a culinary masterpiece Joann. If I ate sugar I would certainly want a slice of your beautiful cake or a taste of the tart or Charlotte. You should be very proud of your daughter and her acceptance to Davis is really something to celebrate. Good job!Your have a gift for baking Joann. xoxo

About Me

I am a woman who is genuinely REAL. Besides being an English teacher, I'm a lifelong learner, a devoted mother and grandmother, and so much more. I'm excited about life and purposeful in my choices in food, health and beauty products, and want to help others be their very best...
Now, it's time to step away from my job and my career and to move into my passion. My creative spirit is longing to own an eco-friendly inn and wedding venue and cater old-fashioned teas in a new-fashioned way....join me....

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